Dance Australia – June-July 2017

BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE

A WORLD PREMIERE BY STEPHEN PAGE

E –

SYDNEY | CANBERRA | BRISBANE | MELBOURNE

BANGARRA.COM.AU

JUNE / JULY 20 17 | W W W.DANCEAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

AUDITION SPECIAL 49

side splits, demonstrate their back extension by
lying face down on the f loor and pushing up
with their hands, or show their hamstring and
hip extensor f lexibility. “We are looking for
natural ability, we don't push them,”
Konstantinova says. “We let them do it
themselves, they show us their natural abilities.
We always make it very positive. Whatever they
can already do, that is enough.”
If the pupil is seen to have potential, he or she
may be invited to join the ABS's Interstate
Training Programme or After-School
Programme (depending on their age and where
they live). From these programs, they may be
invited to audition for a full-time place at the
annual final audition at the Australian Ballet
School headquarters. Or they may be invited
directly from the audition itself.
“If they are of that 13 to older age range, and
wishing to audition for full-time, then that gives
us the selection grounds to invite them to the
Finals,” Franken says.
The Finals are held in August each year. The
applicant attends the School for nearly a full
week, during term, taking classes in classical,
contemporary, repertoire, plus pointe work for the
girls. They will also be given another physical
assessment, this time by the School's
physiotherapist. She will check such things as
their hip rotation, the range of motion of their
ankles and other joints and muscles, the structure
of their toes and metatarsals of the feet.
Proportions, such as the length of the legs, are
not physically measured – the teachers rely on
their own eyes and experience and knowledge of
the ideal body type for classical ballet.
“It's a visual art,” Konstantinova says.
“Obviously we want great proportions, but at the
same time sometimes proportion is not the
main thing for us if we can see other qualities.
Not everybody can be really classical but they

can still be great dancers.”

During the week candidates

will also be shown around the

Victorian College of the Arts

Secondary School (the ABS’s

academic partner) and the

boarding house, and be

provided with any other

information they require. The

audition is held during school

term, so the students and

parents have the thrill of seeing

the school in full f low. From

the School's point of view, it is a

chance for all the teachers to

see the students and contribute

to the final selection.

Of the initial hundreds who

first audition, on average about

50 to 65 are invited to attend

the final audition. “We don't

work to numbers," Franken

says, but, as is to be expected with an elite

institution, there are fewer places than there are

aspirants. However, some may still be offered

places in the School's other programs, from

where they may be invited to audition again in

the future.

“When we select students for the Interstate

Training Programme they have the opportunity

to come during the year any time, so we can

keep our eye on their progress. This also makes

auditioning for full-time less intimidating for

the students. They get to know our expectations

and, as staff, we are more familiar with them,”

Konstantinova says.

Konstantinova is keen to emphasise that

physical attributes are not the only qualities the

ABS is looking for. “Proportions are important,

but we are also looking for the dedication, the

love for this profession.” Franken concurs:

“Certainly we want the passionate, hard-

working students.” In addition to dedication, she

speaks of the search for a "natural musicality" or

"dance quality", that special indefinable shine

that draws an audience's eye.

Konstantinova has been teaching at the

ABS for 15 years. In that time she has seen

the ABS expand its reach around Australia.

She is full of praise for the standard of

teaching she encounters. The one trend she

does regret, however, is that the number of

boys auditioning has declined.

Auditioning for the ABS is now a much more

f lexible and open-ended experience. Teachers

can become aware of talented students long

before the formal selection process. In the

meantime, those who audition have the

thrilling experience of taking class at one of the

best ballet schools in the world.

Auditioning for the

Australian Ballet

School is now a

much more

accessible process.

PHOTO: NICK FORSTER